September 28, 2013

House will vote Saturday on plan to delay Obamacare, keep government open

The House of Representatives plans to vote later Saturday on a budget plan that would delay the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, for a year.

It would also repeal the 2.3 percent medical device tax, and fund the government through Dec. 15.

The Senate Friday approved a measure that funds the government through Nov. 15 and keeps the health care law intact.

Since Republicans control the House, passage of the new plan is expected--setting up a showdown with the Senate, which is not scheduled to return until Monday.

Here's House Speaker John Boehner's statement Saturday:

"The American people don’t want a government shut down and they don’t want ObamaCare. That’s why later today, the House will vote on two amendments to the Senate-passed continuing resolution that will keep the government open and stop as much of the president’s health care law as possible.

“The first amendment delays the president’s health care law by one year. And the second permanently repeals ObamaCare’s medical device tax that is sending jobs overseas.

“Both of these amendments will change the date of the Senate CR to December 15th. We will also vote on a measure that ensures our troops get paid, no matter what.

“We will do our job and send this bill over, and then it’s up to the Senate to pass it and stop a government shutdown.”

Comments

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According to the Republicans – "The American people don’t want a government shut down and they don’t want ObamaCare.” To that I answer Yes and No.

Yes - the American people don’t want the Government shut down.

No – You are wrong, the American people do want Obamacare. And as time goes on I predict that more Americans will want and appreciate health insurance.

Once in my life I was without health insurance for about two months. Hey, I was 19 years old and in great health. What could go wrong? Well I had emergency appendicitis surgery. It was an expensive lesson but one I learned well.

In 2012, more votes were cast for Democratic candidates for the House of Representatives than were cast for Republicans candidates. But the Republican stranglehold at the state level gave us gerrymandering that in turn gave us the Republican majority in the House races.

One of these days the American people will wake up and elect a government that will work for all the people, not just the 1%.